Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Katherine Schwarzenegger
PAWSITIVELY INSPIRING.
PAWSITIVELY INSPIRING.
Activism is in her DNA.
As the eldest daughter of actor/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist/philanthropist Maria Shriver, author and activist Katherine Schwarzenegger is as close as it comes to Los Angeles royalty. With three books under her belt, including one children’s tome, the 27-year-old author tackles important topics including body positivity and, now, pawsitivity. Maverick and Me, Schwarzenegger’s third book and first children’s story, educates kids on the heartwarming merits of animal adoption. Using her influence to make a real difference, Schwarzenegger hopes to inspire girls and women to feel confident in their skin, and to be an advocate for the voiceless, both canine and human.
More from Katherine below.
Name: Katherine Schwarzenegger
Instragram: @katherineschwarzenegger
Where do your drive and passion come from?
Both my drive and my passion come from life experiences and my upbringing. I was raised by parents who had a huge amount of drive and many passions and that made me excited to grow up and discover what it is I am passionate about. Whether that's animal rights, women's issues, maternal mortality, body image, gathering advice for my generation, or lifestyle, I try to work on all of these passions to make a difference. I grew up seeing people around me of all ages making a difference in the world and because of that I always felt that I too, could make a difference no matter how big or how small the topic.
Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?
For me, that means loving humans, animals, the earth and having a desire to make the world a better place for everyone. There is so much going on in the world and lot of the time we only get shown the negative happening in the world, and its so important to focus on all of the people, on various levels, that are doing so much to better this world in so many different areas. No matter how big or how little, doing anything you can to make this world a better place for the people and animals in it, is so important. Just starting by treating each other with kindness is a great place to begin.
"Treating each other with kindness is a great place to begin."
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How did you find yourself on this particular career journey?
Really just through living life and having different experiences. I never thought that I would be writing books or doing TV work. I was always super shy and could hardly ever keep a straight face, so the idea of going into a line of work that is in the public eye wasn't something I ever saw myself doing. I did an internship at Dove when they came out with their campaign for real beauty, and I became super passionate about body image and having a desire to start the conversation about body image and not make it something secretive or taboo to talk about like I felt it was when I was growing up. I finished that internship and was so read up on the topic, I decided to write a book proposal and shop it around and that's how I started doing my first book. I felt that it was important for young girls to be able to read someone's story and feel they weren't alone when feeling insecure, lost or confused as a teenager. I started doing TV work because when I wrote that book and went on a book tour, I went on talk shows for the very first time in my life and right away fell in love with everything about being on a talk show. I felt really comfortable and at home and it just felt like something I found interesting but also fun. The same kind of situation goes for everything else I have done in my career; it has really been based on having different life experiences and passions that have made me want to keep writing books and expand my career in certain areas and always be open to new things.
Do you think you've found your true calling?
I think and have found that your true calling evolves over time for a lot of us. For example, when I did my first book, I felt my true calling was body image and helping young girls feel they weren't alone in their journey and struggles. Now, although I am still very passionate about body image and women's empowerment, another true calling for me would be helping animals and being a voice for the voiceless. I wrote my children's book because I wanted to teach kids about the importance of animal rescue and shining a light on all of the amazing animals that are available for adoption with the hopes that when a child or adult gets their first pet, they might choose to adopt. I think as you live your life, you have different and new experiences that might spark your interest and lead you to discover your true calling. Body image, women's empowerment and animals will always be a passion for me, but I am excited and open to see how that develops over time.
"Body image, women's empowerment, and animals will always be a passion for me."
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Are there any fears associated with your work? If yes, what are they?
I think there are fears with everyone's work and life, in some areas more than others. For my line of work, I experience some fear when I talk candidly about things like body image or my personal experiences because I have a fear of what people might think of me or how people might react to what I say. When I did my first book, I had to decide if I wanted to have the book be more fact and statistic based, or if I wanted to share my experiences and make it more of an open diary kind of book which was terrifying for me. I ended up deciding to make it more of a open diary kind of book because even though I was so scared to share all of my personal stories and struggles from growing up, I felt that if there was one girl who read my experiences and could feel that she wasn't alone in her journey, that it would be worth it for me. While some of my high school friends poked fun at me for sharing certain things, I didn't care, knowing my book could help someone. Sometimes when I work with a certain brand or company, I might have fear that people might think what I am doing is silly or judge whatever it is that I am working on. I would say a place in my work that I don't have any fear, is when I talk about animals or spread awareness about animal rescue. Sometimes I have fear and other times I don't, but when I do have fear about something, that makes me feel like I should push myself, even more, to just do it, because that's how you learn and grow.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
With my new children's book "Maverick and Me", people might think that doing a book for kids is easy but it was actually a lot more work than I thought it would be. I had done two adult books before this children's book so I thought it would be a breeze, but there is a lot more work that goes into a children's book than I expected. I also found it to be super interesting that when I would travel around to promote this book, that tons of people came up to me and said: "I've always wanted to do a children's book but I just never have been able to get it done." I was really surprised at the number of people, some that were even close friends, that have had a passion for writing stories for children and for whatever reason, just haven't. I also like to let people know that this book was in the works for over a year before it even became anything so it takes time and is a process.
What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Whenever someone tells me my work has helped them, that's when I feel complete. When I wrote my first book about body image, I said that if my book helped one girl feel she wasn't alone, then my book was a success for me. When I did my second book, I said that if my book helped one person feel less anxious and more excited about closing the chapter of college and starting a new chapter in the real world, then my book was a job well done. And with my most recent children's book, I said that if my book helped one dog get adopted, then my book had served its purpose. There is no better feeling than hearing someone say "I read your book with my kids and we decided to adopt a dog", or "I read your book and realized I wasn't alone if I was feeling bad about my body and knew I could get through it", or "I read your book and really got excited about all the possibilities of what I can do after college". Its a feeling I can't explain but it honestly makes me cry every time (I'm also a huge crybaby).
Whenever someone tells me my work has helped them, that's when I feel complete.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
I have a mixed answer for this because of my various kinds of passions, so bear with me. If I could trade jobs with anyone it would be a combination of Beyoncé, Kelly Ripa, and a farmer or someone who owns an animal sanctuary. I am obsessed with Beyoncé and think she is incredible in so many ways and if I could be able to sing and just live her life for a day I would find it fascinating but mostly to be able to have the gift of her voice would be amazing. I love talk shows and just talking about things that are going on in the world so when I watch her in the morning, I think how fun that job would be. It isn't her specifically, just any morning talk show. I would want to also trade jobs with someone like a farmer just to be around animals of all kinds all day every day. I love animals of all kinds and they make me so happy and when you are able to help them and offer them a second chance at life, that's beyond rewarding to me. So if anyone knows a job that incorporates all of those areas, let me know :)
At what point in your life did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
That to me is a daily lesson. Sometimes I wake up and I feel confident and other days I don't. When I wrote my first book I was a sophomore in college and people would say "where did you get the confidence to do that at such a young age" and I would always say, "well I never thought of my age as an issue, I just felt that I found something I was really passionate about and wanted to write about it to help others". I was raised in a family that always stressed the importance of giving back and making a difference, that no matter your age you could make a difference, and that finding your passion and running with it was the greatest thing you could do. When it comes to topics I am passionate about, I usually always feel confident talking and being a voice for those issues. A friend in college always told me that "as long as you prepare, review and do your research, there is no reason to feel nervous or lack confidence" and that has always stuck with me. So whether I am talking to someone about the latest skincare trend, or speaking to people about the importance of animal rescue and being a voice for the voiceless, or letting a young girl know she's not alone in her body image struggles or gathering advice for people in my generation about what to expect going into the real world; I always prepare so I can always feel confident.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
The amount of advice or nuggets of wisdom I get from my mom is endless but here are a few. When my sister and I were little my mom started having us practice positive self-talk. I have a video of my sister and me in our high chairs saying in sync, "I am nice, I am smart, I am kind, I am beautiful." I think that was such a great and cool way to empower us from the start. To continue that, my mom always told me "there will always be someone prettier, smarter, thinner, funnier than you, but you should only focus on being the best you can be because there is only one you and the world needs more of that". I think that was helpful for me to know at a young age and to be reminded of as I get older because we can get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and I think that has only gotten more challenging as social media has become even more relevant. We see people doing certain things (mostly always flawlessly on social media) in their careers, in their relationships, in their travels etc. and we can't help but see that and want some part of that and then wonder why we don't have that in our lives. That can get to be a negative thing because you are constantly comparing and never really happy or content with what is going on in your own life and being grateful for your own blessings. I like to remind myself that seeing people's lives on social media is great but its focused on the pretty and nice parts of life for the most part and not what is really going on in people's lives, and to not worry about what others are doing only to worry about myself.
I have a video of my sister and me in our high chairs saying in sync, "I am nice, I am smart, I am kind, I am beautiful." I think that was such a great and cool way to empower us from the start.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road?
I try to remember that everything happens for a reason and that even though I might not be able to see or understand that reason in the moment, that eventually I will see why I was sent down a certain path. That can sometimes sound cliche and be hard to believe when you are in the middle of something and really having a hard time, but I do think believing that has really helped me get through things in life. I also believe that having some sort of faith is really important in life. Whatever you go through in life, knowing there is something bigger than you and life is also helpful and that's different for everyone.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Any Christmas song will cheer my right up but I'm one of those people that likes to listen to sad music when I am sad so I have a full Adele playlist for that.
Photo Credit: @davisfactor
Hair & Makeup: @SmashboxCosmetics @TheGlamApp @TheOuai
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Philanthropy: Grace Mahary
LIGHTING THE WAY.
LIGHTING THE WAY.
Grace Mahary, model and philanthropist, is all about bringing love and light to the world.
A first generation Canadian of Eritrean descent, Grace has walked in Victoria Secret shows and graced the pages of Vogue, but over the last four years, she has been researching renewable energy solutions, especially for countries lacking electrical and mechanical infrastructure
Drawing from her global network, Grace compiled a team to create tangible clean energy solutions for communities around the world, turning her sights to something near and dear to her heart: Project Tsheigh.
Project Tsehigh ( (pronounced se-hai, PjT for short) was established in New York City in 2015. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing uninterrupted energy to impoverished communities around the world via renewable energy sources. Tsehigh, translated as “sun” in English, is determined to bring uninterrupted clean energy to impoverished communities around the world, Grace launched the non-profit in Eritrea, home to her family and a place in desperate need of sustainable clean energy.
That’s what we call beauty on the inside. Keep shining Grace.
More below.
Name: Grace Mahary
Instagram: @gracemahary
Business Instagram: @ProjectTsehigh
Where do your drive and passion come from?
My parents, as they are extremely passionate people who exemplify hard work and perseverance.
How do you feel as a woman in tech?
I’ve never thought to consider myself “a woman in tech” because I don’t have formal STEM education. However, as I learned more about the sciences through my work with Project Tsehigh, I realized that I’m passionate about advancing technologies in the renewables space that will improve the quality of life for so many people. The traditional definition of technology is expanding, and I’m honored to be surrounded by these intelligent, strong women who are changing the world.
It’s great to see the numbers of women in stem rise, but it’s also important for young girls and adult women to know that if you don’t want to go into a career in tech or math or sciences, it doesn’t make your career less meaningful. As someone who has two careers, can you talk a bit about this?
I’ve had to deal with defending my job throughout my entire modeling career. Some people think that the fashion industry is completely frivolous and that modeling is as easy as standing in front of a camera and smiling. That’s definitely untrue, and now modeling has opened so many doors for Project Tsehigh. And even though I’m developing my STEM skills, that doesn’t devalue my career as a model. If you follow your passion, there is always room to incorporate purpose.
Would you say modeling gave you a thicker skin to deal with the STEM field?
Modeling has taught me a lot of valuable skills like confidence, independence, and the importance of humility. All of those skills are transferable to running a business or nonprofit. Project Tsehigh is still very new, and I compare it to a startup tech company that is building its infrastructure, reiterating processes and fundraising. This year we launched our first project and donated 105 solar power units to households and establishments in Maaya, Eritrea. It was one of the most challenging -- and rewarding -- projects I have ever worked on in my entire career. There were set-ups, setbacks, and comebacks, but my confidence, independence and humility helped me persevere.
What are your hopes for young women who are interested in STEM?
My hope is that young women who are interested in STEM are never discouraged because society says that tech is for men, or that working in tech “makes you less feminine” -- which is just ridiculous! Growing up I wanted to be a basketball star, but I was conditioned to think that women were either athletes or they were “girly girls” -- we couldn’t be both. As I grew older, I quickly learned that wasn’t true at all. I was able to play ball and walk the Victoria’s Secret Runway Show. The great thing about STEM is that you can combine multiple passions to make your career. If you love coding and reading, you could create an app for finding the best books. If you love the math and fashion, you could manage the finances for the biggest fashion houses. The possibilities are endless!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is when people chew with their mouth open. The sound of their lips smacking drives me off the wall!
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
My biggest fear about running a business is failing the people that work with me. I try to be transparent and honest with everyone I work with, and I take obligations to others seriously. I regularly ask for their feedback on how our organization is doing and how I’m doing as a leader, like a reverse employee evaluation.
What's something you'd like people to know about your job that they probably don’t?
Working as a model is very unpredictable, and opportunities can be super last minute. Some mornings I’ll wake up with my day planned in my mind, and then I’ll receive an email or call about flying to another city that same evening for a job!
IYO-- How can we stay original when we are so saturated with other people's work?
"Be authentic. You’ll break through the static when you find your secret sauce and share it with the world."
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What about your career makes you feel the most complete?
Knowing that Project Tsehigh is creating lasting change on a global level.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
A performer! If I could sing well, I would be on tour igniting the stage and sharing my energy with everyone. Also an actor because I like challenging myself to play different characters, and then I could act out additional dream careers like working with professional athletes in sports medicine, working with Elon Musk on eliminating fossil fuels and powering the world with 100% renewable energy, or a character who lives minimalistically in the tropics teaching yoga or some type of exercise to the local community.
At what point in your career did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the woman you are today?
That is still an ongoing effort for me. Over the last couple of years, I really started embracing my talents more and being less fearful. I’ve grown so much after starting Project Tsehigh. As a model, I’ve always had an agent guide me to make the best decisions, so running Project Tsehigh has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’m usually speaking directly to partners and potential donors, which was daunting at first, but now has become second nature.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
You need to make mistakes in order to grow and learn. Don’t overthink -- take the first step and then figure out how to execute the rest of your goal. Specifically pertaining to modelling: don’t take things personally.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
I will admit that I am a bit stubborn at times, but it becomes a positive character quality here because once I have my mind set on achieving something, I’ll literally do whatever it takes to accomplish it. If that means financial sacrifice, so be it. Hard labor and exhaustion, I’ll do it. I refuse to feel defeated because I believe in myself and know I can accomplish anything with hard work.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Closer" by Goapple because it inspires and reminds me that no matter what happens, I’m closer to achieving my dreams and goals!
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE PHILANTHROPY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate Beauty 100: Marianna Hewitt & Lauren Gores Ireland
MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.
MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.
The glow up is everything. Which, is something that Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland know a bit about.
As bloggers, the Summer Friday co-founders @laurengores + @marianna_hewitt have tried, tested, masked and mud bathed, just about every product on the market. And yet, even with all that beauty bag swag, bins and boxes full of every type of treatment, they were still in search of a skin care routine with good-for-you ingredients that gave their skin an immediate selfie-worthy glow. Like a Lumee in a bottle, baby.
As such, they've launched Summer Fridays believing that women deserve "it." They deserve to feel confident in clear, beautiful skin. Plus a little glow never hurt anyone.
Shine bright and learn more about the friends and co-founders below.
Names: Marianna Hewitt & Lauren Gores Ireland
Instagram Handles: @marianna_hewitt + @laurengores
Business Instagram Handle: @summerfridays
The launch of Summer Fridays is very exciting! How did to come to be? And tell us the goods! What's it all about?
Marianna: We have literally tried every product t there and had never found the perfect mask, so we decided to make one for ourselves. We're a line of luxe facial masks with good for you ingredients with super fast results, because who wants to wait 6 weeks to see if a product is working or not?
Lauren: We wanted to create something that could make you look and feel great- from home or a hotel room or even mid-flight. We are big believers in taking care of your skin first. We started with masks because we found they’re a super- fast game-changer for beautiful skin. And to be honest, there wasn’t anything out there that we truly loved.
Why was it time for each of you to launch your own line?
Marianna: My readers really come to me for advice on what to buy or use and skincare is the first step in your beauty routine so I knew I wanted to create a product that made women feel more confident so that they could go makeup free or so their makeup could look even better with great skin as a base.
Lauren: The remarkable part of social media is being able to connect directly with my followers. We wanted to support our amazing community and give them what they have been asking for: clean and effective skincare products that build confidence. We are doing this with our community as much as we are doing it for them.
How did you know the other was the right business partner?
Marianna: We mirrored each others lives --two Libras, from the Midwest, who went to school for Broadcast Journalism who grew up wanting to be Oprah. We started our blogs at the same time and through our years of friendship, we always related through our goals and aspirations. So we joined together after knowing each other for so long and it has been an amazing partnership.
Lauren: Marianna is not only impressively creative, but she is also strategic. She knows exactly how to create something that will resonate with her massive following. I wanted to work alongside her because she brings magic and meaning to everything she touches.
What's most exciting to each of you about the launch?
Marianna: I'm so used to doing things instantly posting content online so I'm really excited for my audience to see what we've been working on since 2016.
Lauren: We are so proud of this product and so passionate about this project. We are so excited to finally share it with the people who inspired us and who have gifted us with the incredible opportunity to do what we love.
Respectively, what does beauty mean to you?
Marianna: Feeling confident in your skin.
Lauren: To me, beauty is confidence. Confidence stems from so many elements of my life, but certainly feeling good in the skin I’m in is a huge part of it. We want our masks to make others feel confident in their own skin.
"Beauty means feeling confident in your skin."
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Again respectively, do you remember a moment when you first felt beautiful?
Marianna: When my skin looks good, I feel my best. I feel like I am glowing and confident and when I feel confident I can take on anything that comes my way.
Lauren: I’m really grateful that I have a mother who made me feel beautiful through instilling self- confidence. That’s really stayed with me as I’ve become a new mother myself. Even with no makeup and very little sleep, I’m reminded every day when I look at my son experiencing the world for the first time that happiness is what makes me most beautiful.
Even with no makeup and very little sleep, I’m reminded every day when I look at my son experiencing the world for the first time that happiness is what makes me most beautiful.
Marianna, you share so much with the world! What's something you'd like people to know about your career and day-to-day that they probably don’t?
It isn't as glamorous as it looks on Instagram.
Lauren, in your opinion, how can we stay original when we are so saturated by other people's work?
I think a lot of what is important to people now is to evolve and develop. My brand has changed as i have personally changed and I’ve found that my audience is responsive to that genuine growth.
What are your biggest fears about running a business?
Lauren: I think there is always some fear in taking risks and that’s a natural part of starting a new business. The biggest fear stems from not taking those risks and limiting ourselves because of that.
What about your individual careers make you feel the most complete?
Marianna: When I meet a reader or follower who has taken something I've shown or taught them to affect their lives in a positive way. That could be a product that makes them feel good, an outfit they got for a first date or life advice that made them take a risk that they were afraid to.
Lauren: What makes me the happiest in my career is when I know that what I’m creating is giving people a moment of joy in their own lives. Our world can often feel chaotic and I relish the moments that I can offer some solace even in the smallest way.
Our world can often feel chaotic and I relish the moments that I can offer some solace even in the smallest way.
What about doing this together adds to that feeling?
Marianna: We both have the same goals in mind for our company. We have Summer Fridays and our consumer at top of mind, so we work together really well to always stick to that goal. We know that our brand will build a community of women and give confidence through skincare.
Lauren: We really trust each other, and we are open to making changes. It’s really important to have a partner who is flexible. One of our top goals is to create an inclusive community around Summer Fridays that can grow and develop as we do.
If you had to trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would it be and why?
Both: Oprah!
At what point in your careers did you find the confidence to really take charge and become the women you are today?
Lauren: I think that’s an ongoing process. It’s a journey and a challenge, and by finding things I am passionate about I aim to be continuously inspired to continue. There are days you feel completely con dent and days that you question everything, but the important part is to keep trying.
"The important part is to keep trying."
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Marianna: I think its something I have always known. Being from Ohio, I had big goals and aspirations that many people in my town did not. I think it was something I was born with and was going to work hard to achieve it.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Or your favorite piece of #realtalk?
Marianna: Be nice. It sounds simple but often people really forget.
Lauren: My dad always told me, “Most of the time you regret the things you didn’t do, not the things you did. Keep on doing.”
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road or a detour?
Marianna: Sometimes a detour is supposed to lead you in a better direction, so I am a roll with the punches kind of girl and just go with the ow instead of against it.
Lauren: When I feel frustrated that something is no longer working, I’ll take some time (whether it’s days, weeks, or months) to pause and process. I try to look at things from a new perspective and understand that things are constantly changing. Old habits that were once successful may not always work and I have to be open to change.
"Old habits that were once successful may not always work."
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What song do you each sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
Marianna: Baby It's Cold Outside!
Lauren: Mariah Carey!
TO SEE THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE BEAUTY LIST CLICK HERE.
Create & Cultivate 100: Entertainment: Emma Roberts & Karah Preiss
THEY'RE LIT
THEY'RE LIT.
"Nobody reads anymore" is an untruth for Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss, friends and co-founders behind Belletrist, the site that celebrates great books and the people who read them.
And yes, reading, in and of itself, is a form of entertainment-- one of the best and oldest forms of entertainment we might add.
Every month, Belletrist features a different book and a favorite independent bookstore, both hand-picked by Emma and Karah.
Though they live on opposite coasts, the actress (Emma) and voracious reader (both) are forever connected via words.
After co-founding Belletrist in 2017, Emma says that she read more books than she ever has before, but that doesn't stop people from questioning her on set. "When I'm reading a book on set, some people will come up to me and ask, 'You read?' And I say: 'What part of that is
surprising? Because I'm an actress? Because I have blonde hair? What is it that literally stopped you in your tracks to be shocked that I can read and do read,' that's really crazy. And they're like, 'Well it just didn't seem like you would read.' So, I ask 'why?' And no one can really give me an answer. I always find that interesting. I would actually assume somebody reads before I would assume that they don't read. Being an actress, I think that people are just surprised that you do anything else," she wrote on Belletrist while interviewing "Abandon Me" author Melissa Febos.
But we are certainly happy both women are readers. The more the merrier. Plus, with their platform, they're not only getting noses in books, but they're sticking theirs places we'd love to go. Through Belletrist Emma had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview Joan Didion, as well as Carmen Maria Machado, author of the inimitable "Her Body and Other Parties."
More below.
Favorite book you read in the last year:
Emma: "The Rules Do Not Apply" by Ariel Levy. This book is an account of Levy's life, toggling between life as a young girl and a woman trying to navigate the overwhelming burden of a choice that we all feel as we reach adulthood. Contrary to what many people think, it's not just a story of a woman's miscarriage. It's an important book about what it means to "want it all" as a woman in the 21st century.
Emma, on finding the woman who would become one of her favorites:
Emma: When I was eighteen and living in New York City, I met a boy. Because this boy was a writer, he was trying to write—probably about me, I thought. It turns out, he wasn’t. Either way, he wanted me to shut up, and so he handed me a book from his bookshelf. The book was Play It As It Lays.
The author was Joan Didion. I had never heard of her before, but because I wanted to come across as sophisticated I said nothing and started reading in the other room.
From that moment, I fell in love with Joan and not in a casual way. You don’t just read Joan Didion. Joan Didion begins to inform your life. She makes you look at places, like California, New York and Hawaii, differently. She changes the way you view grief and loss. She humanizes celebrities like John Wayne and Joan Baez. She forces you to understand that a journalist is not just somebody who reports the news, but rather someone who makes history. She changes the way you keep a journal, even though you know you might be the only person to ever read it. She makes you feel like you might possibly be the reporter of your own life, not just living it.
I’m not the only woman or person who has thought these things about Joan Didion, and I certainly won't be the last. However, there is a part of me, and I think there is a part of every person who reads Joan, that wishes she was all their own.
Belletrist January Book Pick:
"The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin. We adore this novel and cannot wait to discuss many of the philosophical questions raised throughout!
On their friendship:
Emma: We literally love books. I think that’s been the strongest part of our friendship. We met through mutual friends, and it was one of those things where people thought maybe we wouldn’t really become that close, but we ended up becoming really close because of…
Karah: Books.
Emma: … a love for reading and just wanting to learn more, read more and … she [Karah] really imposed such a reading list on me.
On their hopes for Belletrist:
Karah: We said we want to do what Kylie Jenner has done to lip kits …
Emma: … for books.
Karah: For books.
This has been edited and condensed via Belletrist.
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Create & Cultivate 100: Health & Wellness: Melissa Arnot Reid
THE SUMMIT MASTER.
THE SUMMIT MASTER.
Nothing can stop her she's all the way up (on the top of Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen).
She may be the first American woman to successfully summit and descend Everest without supplemental oxygen, but Eddie Bauer guide Melissa Arnot Reid has said that “being the first is irrelevant.” As one of the world’s most revered climbers, she has summited Everest 6 times, holding the record for an American woman. (Nepali Lhakpa Sherpa has 7 summits as of 2016, the most of any woman, anywhere.) Despite her near-mastery of the mountain, Arnot Reid remains in humbled by it, all-too aware of its indiscriminate power over even the most skilled and seasoned climbers. Its with this humility in mind that Arnot Reid co-founded The Juniper Fund to provide financial support to families of local workers killed in the mountains of Nepal.
Find out this world class athlete literally climbed her way to the top.
On August 7th of 2017, you and Maddie Miller broke the record for the fastest time to summit each state’s high point in 41 days, 16 hours, and 10 minutes. WOW. Just Wow. And also, why? What compelled the 50 Peaks challenge?
We completed this challenge in August of 2016 after 3 years of planning. It was really Maddie's idea- a way to have an adventure framed within a goal. Our goal was to complete the peaks in 50 days but when it became clear we might be able to get the speed record we decided to go all out (aka, no sleeping).
Mentorship is a huge part of Create & Cultivate? Did you have a mentor? And why is mentorship important to you?
Mentorship is a totally lost art. I never had a mentor and I had to make a lot of mistakes of my own, which is why I have dedicated myself to trying to be a solid mentor for the next generation of young female climbers. I work with a 15, 18 and 22 year old and it is super rewarding to see where they are going with what tools I can share with them.
Is there a climb where you would say you learned the "hardest" lesson?
My hardest lesson came on a climb in 2010 when my partner was killed in an ice avalanche while we were together. I had always felt that I was making safe decisions so I would always be safe but that moment reminded me and taught me that mother nature is in control and all you can do is respect that. It changed the path of my life.
You're the first American woman to ascend and descend Everest without supplemental oxygen. What's it like to be the "first" in something? Does that make you feel more pressure to perform?
I think that being first is a little scary but also wonderful because it shows others what is possible.
Everyone always talks about the ascension. But what's the climb down like?
The climb is one thing but the descent is so much more serious- you are already tired and have so much to lose. Each step matters, there and back.
Where does your boundless ability to push yourself come from?
I have a deep personal curiosity of what is possible for me. That keeps me pushing myself and trying new things.
What would you call your superpower?
Perseverance and a real ability to tune out discomfort.
If you could give a room of women one piece of advice, what would it be?
Take the first step. Ignore the end goal, it always seems overwhelming if you are looking 20 miles down the road. Just take the first step and you will be surprised at what momentum you create.
What's your favorite advice you've ever received?
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams- (it's a Thoreau quote). It is my guiding principal. Don't be timid, go after your dreams.
"Don't be timid, go after your dreams."
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How much of a climb is psychical? And how much is mental?
100 percent both. You need to be strong the whole time but you also need to believe in yourself and keep those mental traps from weighing you down.
What do you think you'll be doing as an 80-year-old lady?
I hope climbing on a sunny day with my husband and family. Something outside for sure. I am an outdoor animal, I don't think that will change with age.
What new challenges are you excited to face in your lifetime?
I am always looking for new ways to learn and push my own boundries. Anything where I am learning I consider an adventure.
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Real Talk: Why Ruthie Lindsey Pulled Back the Curtain on Her Instagram Perfect Life
Life isn't always as it seems.
There is a kind of pain that can squeeze the soul right out of your heart.
Edit: If you let it.
Inspirational speaker, designer, and stylist Ruthie Lindsey spent the majority of her twenties confined to her bed. There was an accident her senior year of high school. There was her recovery. Then, years later, came an insane pain that “shot up her head.” Multiple doctors had no answers. Scans were read wrong for years. Until finally, one figured out that one of the wires from a spinal cord surgery had pierced into her brain stem. Shocked that she wasn’t paralyzed, they operated and removed the piece. A new pain ensued. Nothing helped. And the pain medication dependance dominoed.
But all dominoes can be reset. Picked up. And Ruthie realized she didn't want to live confined to pain; sunlight would be the best antidote. Her life started to change.
But as direct messages rolled in from strangers on social media, those who wrote her that her life looked perfect through the lens of Instagram, she felt a conviction to give people the full context. That story can be found in the below video where Ruthie says of the pain, “I would pinch myself to draw blood because I thought I was living in a nightmare.”
video: Loupe Theory, directed by Max Zoghbi
These days you could throw Ruthie to the wolves and she’d return leading the pack. When we speak, she is in Telluride, Colorado, having travelled there for Mountainfilm, a documentary-based festival held every year since 1979. The theme for 2017 is “The New Normal.” Spoiler: there is no normal and Ruthie would be the first to agree.
“It’s very intentional,” she says of the festival, though this also serves as doublespeak for how she lives her life. “And full of people who want to do good in the world— incredible humans are coming together here to try and make the world better.”
After traveling to Telluride in the fall for a job Ruthie made a pact with herself that “no matter what,” she would be back in May. She’s made it. This is her first year in attendance. “I’m jumping in at the end,” she says, noting friends like BFF and writer Jedidiah “Jed” Jenkins, who has been coming for about eight years. Those friends, including Jed, are currently on a hike, and while she admits she’d like to be with them, she’s also happily in awe at the sight right outside the window. “The view I’m looking at right now is so beautiful. I’m sitting on this couch, looking at glory and it is majestic.”
She’s been traveling for about a month, having arrived in the tiny mountain town from Paris the week prior, and she’ll touch back down to her home base of Nashville once the festival ends. Of the schedule she admits, “It’s not sustainable and after this I’ll take a break. Rest. Get back to routine and that’s my life.” But for now, she’s excited about the festival and "the one little strip in the main area [of town] where everyone knows each other.”
“I got my booklet today,” she says of the programming, mentioning the film Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story. “The documentary is about how he found joy,” she says. “He woke up so grateful to be alive.” After happening upon a dead bear, Garcia poked the animal with his knife, only to find that the bear was concealing a live wire. Garcia was hit with 2,400 volts of electricity, which altered the course of his life forever. There are obvious similarities between them. “You don’t just have to survive,” says Ruthie. “You can thrive after trauma.”
"You don't just have
to survive.
You can thrive
after trauma."
photo credit: Chris Ozer
Thrive is a word that surrounds her like a halo. But for many millennial women wondering how to escape the feeling of hopelessness, whether because of a job or otherwise, there has to be a starting point; feeling stuck is a universal emotion. For Ruthie it started with action. "What I’ve realized,” she says, “is that the emotion doesn’t have to precede the action." She talks about the concept of, “Once I feel better I will… pursue this new job, then I’ll be happy, adventure more, or whatever it is— it’s not true. The action always has to come first, but it’s a choice and a decision. Take the action and trust that emotion will come.”
Ruthie explains that when she the made conscious decision to change her life she first made a list of all the things she loved to do before she had pain. “Each day I made myself do one of those things,” she explains. “At the time, I didn’t care about flowers or doing things for someone else. I felt black and numb and dead inside. Truly. But I made myself get up.”
In that transition period she gave herself one more task as well: “Look for beauty and speak it out loud.” She admits this all initially felt like, “a chore and a job — I hated it.” But there was something deeper at work. “I knew I had to do it,” she says. “There was something in my psyche forcing me.” A few weeks in she started to feel the things she was saying. “I had this image of myself in second grade getting glasses for the first time, and that’s how I felt. I was in awe after two months.” She was simultaneously weaning herself off of the pain medication she had been on for years. It took four months and her marriage didn't survive the detox.
“Look for beauty and speak it out loud.”
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Today, her life looks the opposite from the one she thought she wanted (as well as her life from bed) but therein lies the beauty: a sidesplitting pain can became a sidesplitting giggle. “People confuse happiness with joy,” she says. “Joy comes out of such a deeper well than happiness. Joy comes from digging into those really painful, hard, deep parts.” And Ruthie believes you can manifest the life you want. “I thought I would be married and have babies of every color from every nation and that is not my reality, and very likely might not ever be. But what I do have is so cool, so rich, nothing like I envisioned, but it’s better than what I ever hoped for and so much more beautiful.” At the same time she says, “It’s harder and more painful than I ever dreamed.”
Setting boundaries has been a big part of her story as well— understanding her limitations in a way that many young female millennials are grappling to understand. Millennial burnout is real. Young women feel like they’re replaceable. Ruthie says finding those boundaries has come with “a steep learning curve.” It wasn’t her natural state to say no or draw lines in the sand, but laughs, “My shitty body is the best thing that could have ever happened to me because it won’t let me do things. Everything I do comes at a physical cost. When I was stretching myself too thin, taking on a ton of little jobs, it came at a cost. I wasn’t able to be my best self.” Now she’d rather take a financial hit, instead of a physical or emotional one. “I also know I have the luxury of not supporting a family. It’s just me. I’ve done things for way less money that are life-giving and so much more important than any paycheck.” For anyone who might consider this "high-maintenance," Ruthie maintains it’s not so. “My time is valuable and so is every other human’s time. I’ve learned to take fewer jobs that sit better with me and pay better.” Sit better means that she won’t speak about something that she wouldn’t do, say, wear, or eat. “I just won't." She's firm on this.
"People confuse happiness with joy. Joy comes out of such a deeper well."
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Drawing those lines meant making a plan to only meet with three people per week that wanted something from her. “I was so exhausted and giving out so much. I didn’t have time for my people— or my own time. My body gave me the middle finger and said you can’t do this anymore.”
Now when home, she adheres to a morning routine and finds salve in the presence of friends. “Nothing can interfere with it,” she says. However does admit, “Routine is not my personality type. Not knowing excited me.” But she sticks to it. Before 9am Ruthie can knock out writing, reading (“my prize for writing”), using the app Headspace, and doing a 20-minute Pilates video. “That time is sacred. I schedule time with my friends and that is sacred as well. That is life-giving beneficial time."
It's not all flowers and awe all the time. She wouldn't wish this train ride on anyone else and says that learning self-care is a constant battle. "I don't always live in that place, but that’s what I want to step into the world with. That’s when I am my best self.” It is a means to life dividends. “You can’t love other people if you don’t love yourself well,” she says. “When you learn to live out of that space, everything else is better— you work better, you’re a better employee, a better friend, a better sister.”
Adding, “You get to live your best life when you put out your best life. We think we need to only take care of ourselves. But you don’t need to hoard every beautiful thing that comes your way. If you give freely with your words, time, and knowledge, it comes back so much greater. Nothing was ever really mine in the first place, so if it leaves…it was only passing through. It was a gift. Maybe someone else needs that right now. It’s freeing living out of that place. It’s freedom. It feels like freedom."
top photo credit L to R: Kate Renz, Jones Crow, Sadie Culberson; cover photo: Chris Ozer
